GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT SILVER KNIGHTS
Jan 30, 2021
BARRACUDA (2-2-0-1) at Silver Knights (1-0-0-0)
5 p.m. PT; (Listen live at SJBarracuda.com/listen and on the Sharks+SAP Center App)
The Barracuda continue their preseason slate tonight in Las Vegas as they take on the Henderson Silver Knights (Vegas Golden Knights) for the second-straight game. Tonight’s contest can be heard live on the Sharks Audio Network via the Sharks+SAP Center App, at SJSharks.com/listen and at SJBarracuda.com/listen.
On Friday, the Barracuda scored the game’s first goal and then would give up the next six-straight, including five in the second period, eventually falling 7-3. In the loss, Rudolfs Balcers and Alex True each managed to collect a pair of points and rookies Ryan Merkley and Zach Gallant found the back of the net for the first time.
On March 2, 2020, the AHL Board of Governors approved the Vegas Golden Knights’ purchase of the San Antonio Rampage from Spurs Sports and Entertainment, and the relocation of the team to Henderson/Las Vegas for the 2020-21.
Henderson’s roster boasts a handful of top prospects including 2019 first-round pick Peyton Krebs and 2019 second-round pick Kaedan Korczak. The roster also includes six players who were selected in 2017, VGK’s inaugural draft class (F – Jake Leschyshyn, F – Jonas Rondbjerg, F – Lucas Elvenes, F – Jack Dugan, G – Jiri Patera, F – Ben Jones). Henderson’s roster also features Mason Primeau, the son of former Sharks forward Wayne Primeau. Mason was selected by Vegas in the 2019 NHL Draft (round 5, 141st overall).
In addition, to the draft picks, the Silver Knights roster includes former Barracuda forward and 2016-17 AHL Rookie of the Year Danny O’Regan who signed an NHL contract this offseason with the Golden Knights. The Sharks & Barracuda connection goes beyond the players, former Sharks forward Joel Ward was hired as an assistant coach for the Henderson Silver Knights on Nov. 24, 2020. And Head Coach Manny Viveiros, coached Barracuda forward Jake McGrew with the Spokane Chiefs prior to earning the job with the Knights.
Jaycob Megna, who was paired along with Ryan Merkley as the Barracuda’s top defensive combo on Friday, spent all of last year with the Chicago Wolves, under contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. 13 players are on the Silver Knights roster currently who played in Chicago with the Wolves last year.
A projected Barracuda lineup can be found below:
92 Balcers – 70 True – 64 Jake McGrew
43 – Leonard – 14 Suomela – 86 Blichfeld
89 Halbgewachs – 81 Robins – 27 Wiesblatt
63 Viel – 37 Handemark – 45 Bergmann
67 Middleton – 53 Meloche
24 Megna – 6 Merkley
50 Pasichnuk – 57 DeSimone
1 Melnichuk